In a costly blunder, India’s pride of the fleet, the INS Arihant, India’s first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, was left inoperative for nearly a year due to a simple yet catastrophic mistake. The $2.9 billion submarine became a cautionary tale when, in 2017, it suffered extensive damage because a hatch was mistakenly left open, leading to seawater flooding its propulsion compartment. This event, initially shrouded in secrecy, was thrust into the spotlight due to the vessel’s absence during the India-China military standoff at Doklam.
INS Arihant, the cornerstone of India’s nuclear deterrence, stands as a symbol of the country’s advanced military capabilities, able to deliver a second strike as part of India’s “no first use” nuclear policy. Its pivotal role in the nuclear triad, encompassing land, air, and sea-based nuclear capabilities, magnifies the impact of its sidelining. Constructed under the Advanced Technology Vessel project, the Arihant is a triumph of indigenous military technology, powered by an 83 MW pressurized light-water reactor using enriched uranium. However, despite its advanced design and weaponry, the submarine has been plagued by issues since its inception, with delays and discrepancies between the Russian design and indigenous fabrication challenging its operational readiness.
The naval mishap was first brought to public attention when the Indian military confirmed that INS Arihant had undergone repairs in early 2018. The severity of the damage necessitated a painstaking cleanup process, as aggressive seawater corroded vital components, forcing the replacement of many pipes. A Navy source cited that “cleaning up” was particularly arduous in a nuclear submarine due to the complex and sensitive nature of its systems. For ten long months, the submarine was relegated to the docks for this extensive repair work, sidelining a key asset in India’s defense strategy.
The incident also highlighted the potential vulnerabilities in personnel training and operational procedures. With a crew of 100 extensively trained men, it raises concerns about the protocol adherence and checks that are vital for the safe operation of such complex and sensitive maritime platforms. The irony is that while the Arihant boasts formidable nuclear capabilities, it was human error, a mundane oversight, that nearly led to its undoing.
Despite the setback, India continues to press ahead with ambitious plans for its nuclear submarine fleet, with the second ballistic missile submarine, Arighat, already launched for sea trials. The Arihant class vessels remain central to India’s vision of a robust SSBN fleet. The success of the Arihant, despite its high cost and construction challenges, is pivotal for the future expansion and effectiveness of this fleet.
Relevant articles
- INS Arihant left crippled after ‘accident’ 10 months ago, The Hindu
- How to Sink a $3 Billion Dollar Nuclear Submarine: Leave a Hatch Open, The National Interest
- The True Story of the Russian Kursk Submarine Disaster, popularmechanics.com